Don McClain 1 W. 65th St church of Christ / March 9, 2008.

Slide 1

Paul As A MinisterColossians 1:24-29Don McClain1W. 65th St church of Christ / March 9, 20081

Paul As A MinisterPaul Rejoiced - That He Had Suffered For Christ & His Church (24)Paul Was Commissioned - By God To Reveal The Mystery Among The Gentiles (25-27)Paul Labored - To Fulfill His Mission (28,29)Don McClain2W. 65th St church of Christ / March 9, 20082

Colossians 1:24-29 (NKJV)24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, Paul As A MinisterDon McClain3W. 65th St church of Christ / March 9, 20083

Colossians 1:24-29 (NKJV)26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Paul As A MinisterDon McClain4W. 65th St church of Christ / March 9, 20084

Colossians 1:24-29 (NKJV)28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.Paul As A MinisterDon McClain5W. 65th St church of Christ / March 9, 20085

Paul was glad to suffer for the church (Phili 2:17,18)Pauls suffering foretold by Jesus (Acts 9:16)Paul and the other apostles often suffered for the cause of Christ (1 Cor 4:9-13; 2 Cor 11:23-29)Paul Rejoiced That He Had Suffered For Christ & His Church (24)Paul As A Minister24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, Don McClain6W. 65th St church of Christ / March 9, 200815But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."

6

Paul Rejoiced That He Had Suffered For Christ & His Church (24)Paul As A Minister24 . . . and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, These afflictions do not include Christ's vicarious sufferings, which are never denoted by tribulations. That which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ signifies that portion of Christ's ministerial sufferings which was not endured by Him in person, but is endured in the suffering of Christians in all generations in carrying out Christ's work. (Compare 2 Corinthians 1:5, 7; Philippians 3:10). Vincent's Word Studies in the New TestamentDon McClain7W. 65th St church of Christ / March 9, 20082 Corinthians 1:5 (NKJV) 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

Philippians 3:10 (NKJV) 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

7

Paul Was Commissioned by Jesus (Acts 9:15,16; 22:14, 15; 26:16-18; Gal 1:11,12 )Paul Viewed Himself As A Servant & Steward (Rom 1:1; Phili 1:1; Titus 1:1; 1 Cor 4:1,2; 1 Pet 4:10)He Was To Preach Fully The Gospel (Rom 15:19; Acts 20:20,24-27)Paul Was Commissioned By God (25-27)Paul As A Minister25of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, Don McClain8W. 65th St church of Christ / March 9, 200815But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."

8

Paul Was Commissioned By God (25-27)Paul As A Minister26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.The Revealed Mystery signifies simply a truth which was once hidden but now is revealed, a truth which without special revelation would have been unknown. - (Lightfoot)The Revelation of The Gospel (1 Cor 2:7; Ep 3:1-5)Don McClain9W. 65th St church of Christ / March 9, 20089

Paul Was Commissioned By God (25-27)Paul As A Minister27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.It Pleased God To Reveal His Riches & Glory In The Gospel (2 Cor. 4:6)Among The Gentiles i.e., Christ in the Gentiles - full fellowship (Acts 15:7-12)Christ In You Hope in Christ was fully available to the Gentiles - (Col 3:11; Eph 3:6-9)Don McClain10W. 65th St church of Christ / March 9, 200810

Paul Labored To Fulfill His Mission (28,29)Paul As A Minister28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.Pauls Main Goal Was To Present Every Man Perfect In Christ (Acts 20:20)By Preaching Christ (Acts 9:20; 17:3; 1 Cor 2:1-4)By Warning Every Man - (Acts 20:31; 1 Cor 4:14; 2 Tim 4:2; 1 Thes 5:14)By Teaching In All Wisdom - (Col 1:9-11; 1 Cor 2:6; Ep 5:15-17)Don McClain11W. 65th St church of Christ / March 9, 200811

Paul Labored To Fulfill His Mission (28,29)Paul As A Minister29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.Pauls Main Goal Was To Present Every Man Perfect In Christ (Acts 20:20)He labored, i.e. he worked hard to the point of being wearied (1 Cor 15:10; 2 Cor 11:23)Striving, i.e., he fought and struggled (1 Cor 9:25-27)Did not depend upon his own strength - (2 Co 12:9,10; Phili 4:13)Don McClain12W. 65th St church of Christ / March 9, 200812

Paul As A MinisterPaul Rejoiced - That He Had Suffered For Christ & His Church (24)Paul Was Commissioned - By God To Reveal The Mystery Among The Gentiles (25-27)Paul Labored - To Fulfill His Mission (28,29)Don McClain13W. 65th St church of Christ / March 9, 200813

Paul As A MinisterAre We Willing To Suffer For The Cause of Christ and For His People?-We Have Been Given The Great Commission Are We Doing Our Best To Fulfill It?Are We REALLY Laboring For The Lord Striving To Teach & Edify Others?Don McClain14W. 65th St church of Christ / March 9, 200814Don McClain15W. 65th St church of Christ / March 9, 2008